Dear Santa! How’s it going, dude? I see you and the reindeer are hovering somewhere between Santiago and Havana, Cuba right about now. Me? I’m finishing up the last bit of gift wrapping I needed to do. It’s been a year, Santa! To be honest, I wasn’t sure if we’d make it to Christmas. The hits came fast and hard and it hurt to duck. Bad knees! But here we are. Family has taken over my kitchen to prepare for Christmas dinner, the Pretty Princess is watching Christmas movies and my holiday decorations are lighting every room. It feels like Christmas and then it doesn’t. Mom being gone has me in my feelings. She would have been tickled with all the goings on right now. And yes, I did that tree she wanted. Nine feet of red flowers has taken up residence in the living room and may still be here come Valentine’s Day. I miss her. And I miss my daddy. You know he was my personal Santa for years until a certain person spoiled it for me. May she forever get coal in her size wide stockings for bei...